Taipei: Taiwan’s National Institute of Cyber Security has issued a caution regarding the increasing threat of scams within hobby-based online communities, urging citizens to regard invitations to join such groups, followed by requests to add contacts on messaging apps, as high-risk.

According to Focus Taiwan, the institute’s latest weekly report, released on Thursday, highlights how scammers are infiltrating communities centered around shared interests like religion, sports, vegetarianism, and charity work. These scammers initiate contact by sending private messages to add friends, subsequently inviting users into groups or asking them to complete surveys.

The institute, under the supervision of the Ministry of Digital Affairs, revealed that while these surveys may appear to collect general lifestyle information, they are in fact designed to obtain sensitive details, such as a person’s job, income, family situation, and contact information. This enables scammers to identify potential targets and steer conversations towards financial topics.

The report noted a recurring pattern from initial contact to the “final scam,” commonly observed in investment and romance fraud cases. These schemes are now shifting focus from traditional themes of love or high returns to seemingly innocuous spaces like interest groups and charitable communities.

The institute advised the public to be wary of the combination of “events or groups plus requests to add LINE or other contacts,” viewing it as a potential warning sign. Conversations that involve investments, money, or financial transfers should prompt individuals to verify information through official websites or the government’s 165 anti-fraud hotline.

Furthermore, the institute recommended that large investments be conducted solely through licensed financial institutions and regulated platforms. Offers that emphasize “exclusive groups,” “private opportunities,” or urge secrecy should be considered high-risk.

For those administering online communities, the institute proposed establishing clear rules, such as prohibiting investment promotions or financial transactions, and encouraging members to report suspicious accounts, possibly through anonymous channels.

Additionally, the institute suggested that government agencies bolster cooperation with fact-checking organizations and platform operators to enhance the speed of detecting, alerting, and removing fraudulent content.